The World's Best Book Summaries
What should the government spend money on? What should its priorities be and why? In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith discusses what he thinks are the best ways to grow a nation’s economy. Since growth is the goal, Smith opposes most public spending. He outlines two criteria for what he considers proper government expenditures. Only four things meet these criteria. Let’s take a look at what makes the cut and why.
How can you figure out whether certain information is relevant to the issue at hand? How do you know if an information source is credible? The first step to critical thinking is gathering information. To do this well, first, clarify your topic or question and its parameters. Then, assess the relevance of the information you find. Check it for reliability, bias, and fallacies. Continue reading to learn how to gather information to find real answers and solutions.
What was Nelson Mandela’s childhood like? Why, exactly, did he go to prison? What legacy did he leave? Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela chronicles his extraordinary life story. Mandela is known as one of history’s great peacemakers, but his own life wasn’t a peaceful one. He had to fight, every step of the way. Continue reading for an overview of this important book, along with a short exercise to reflect on what you’ve read.
How do you write a story? What’s the first step? At what point should you get feedback? In his book Story, Robert McKee details what he believes to be the ideal writing process: Begin with an outline, flesh it out into a treatment, and then polish it into a final script. McKee frames this as a process for screenwriters, but you could apply it to stories in any medium. Continue reading to learn McKee’s three-step story-writing process.
How is ethical taxation achieved? How can taxes be less disruptive to the economy? In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith shares his general principles for how taxes ought to be collected and assessed. He also analyzes specific forms of taxation in light of his principles and explains how each tax is problematic in its own way. Let’s review Adam Smith’s principles of taxation and his analysis of three common tax policies.
What’s inductive reasoning? How can it help you understand an issue and build a convincing argument? Critical Thinking, Logic & Problem Solving explains how to apply critical thinking to solve problems more effectively. A major step in the process is forming an argument from the information you’ve gathered in order to move toward a solution—and even persuade others to adopt your way of thinking. Here’s the authors’ advice on how to construct an argument that helps everyone clearly grasp the problem and embrace a path forward.
How did Nelson Mandela get involved in the struggle against apartheid? Why didn’t he stick to nonviolent methods? Nelson Mandela fought against South Africa’s racist government policies and its system of apartheid from the 1940s to the 1960s. He then spent 27 years in prison, where he became a worldwide symbol of the South African struggle for freedom. He tells his story in Long Walk to Freedom. Continue reading to see three Long Walk to Freedom quotes that provide insight into Mandela and his life.
Should we expect a New World Order one of these days? Are the Illuminati behind it? Are aliens involved? In Behold a Pale Horse, William Cooper lays out his belief, based on his own research and the writings of other conspiracists, that the world is secretly ruled by a shadowy organization known as the Illuminati. He explains their goals and methods to bring about the New World Order. Keep reading for an overview of this intriguing book.
According to Adam Smith, how are humans different from dogs? What’s the real price of something? How did Smith regard taxation? Adam Smith, an 18th-century Scottish philosopher, is widely considered one of the founding fathers of capitalism. Published in 1776, his book The Wealth of Nations makes the case for free markets and individual self-interest as the best ways to grow a nation’s economy. Continue reading for several quotes from The Wealth of Nations that give you a good idea of the book’s ideas.
How does the government raise money? Are taxes necessary? From whom does the government borrow money? Before governments can spend money on defense, justice, education, or transportation infrastructure, the money needs to come from somewhere. In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith identifies two principal sources of revenue: taxation and borrowing. Continue reading to learn about these two methods of raising money.